Objecting to a scenic photo in this newspaper (August 27) of a man walking on the train tracks near Carkeek Park toting his kayak, a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway engineer contacted the News-Tribune to complain.

"I liked the picture, but people are going to look at that and think it's OK to walk across those tracks," said the engineer who has been with Burlington Northern for eight years, and asked to remain anonymous.

He pointed out that there have been many fatalities on the two rows of track between Carkeek and Golden Gardens parks as people find short cuts to access those beaches.

"The guy in the picture was holding a kayak which blocked his view, and the tracks curve there," he said. "From the pedestrian overpass where the photo was taken you can see how far south? Maybe a quarter-mile?"

Because the engineer's vantage point is much lower than the view from the bridge, the engineer can't stop in time if he lays on the horn and a pedestrian still does not get out of the way.

"They think because there are two tracks that trains run only one direction on each track like a road," he said. "Trains run both directions on both tracks."

He pointed out that an Amtrak train could stop in a quarter-mile at 60 miles per hour. They use Burlington Northern track.

"I can't do that," he warned. "My locomotive alone is 210 tons. I can have 150 cars weighing 19,000 tons. It can take me a mile or more to stop."

"As many as 40 trains run daily between Carkeek Park and Golden Gardens and there are numerous close call situations because of population density and recreational opportunities there," said Burlington Northern spokesperson Gus Melonis.

"Tacoma to Bellingham is on the top of the danger list," said Melonis. "A fence was put up by the (Seattle) Parks Department in three phases between 2005 and 2007. All railroad property is private property, and we issue situations to violators. We have an internal police department with K9 patrol. Bottom line is we want to protect life."

"People talk on their cell phones while the engineer is blasting the horn," said Bob Boston, director, Operation Lifesaver, a safety division of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. "They are oblivious."

He sited13 deaths over 10 years between Golden Gardens and Carkeek parks.

"We do presentations at schools, businesses, and have a booth at safety events," he said. "An oncoming train creates an optical illusion. It appears to be further away and moving slower than it actually is because the tracks appear to converge at the horizon."

Improved technology has produced quieter trains, a mixed blessing.

"Half of the time, the Amtrak engine is in the front pulling, but the other half of the time the engine is in the back, pushing the train. Those trains are really quiet," said Boston, adding, "Amazingly, people cannot hear trains run on the seamless ribbons of welded rail now used. The tracks used to be jointed every 39 feet. That's what made the 'clickety-clack.'"

For more safety information check out Operation Lifesaver: www.wutc.wa.gov/waol.

Steve Shay may be reached at steves@robinsonnews.com.